Google has informed advertising clients that it plans to bring ads to its AI chatbot Gemini. According to Adweek, the company discussed these plans in separate calls with at least two advertising clients in recent days.
What We Know So Far
The rollout is targeted for 2026, though specific details remain scarce. Google representatives did not share prototypes or technical specifications about how advertisements would appear within Gemini. Pricing information has also not been disclosed.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that “Gemini Apps chats are not being used to show ads” currently. However, the company committed to “clearly communicate” any future changes to users.
Why This Matters for Advertisers
This initiative marks the first direct communication from Google to advertisers about monetizing Gemini. It represents a separate development from the AI Mode ads launched in March 2025.
Kelly Heilpern, Chief Strategy Officer at Ammunition, sees significant potential: “Advertising within AI is going to open a new way of targeting. It’s still intent based the way that you would handle search, but because it’s more inquiry based, the refinement in the way that you’re going to be able to target hyper personalized to what the user is looking for is going to be huge for brands.”
The Bigger Picture
CEO Sundar Pichai has previously stated that Google has “very good ideas” for integrating advertising into its AI products. As more than one billion people now engage with generative AI tools monthly, this move could reshape how brands reach audiences, similar to how AI Overviews are already reshaping search behavior.
Gartner predicts that by the end of 2026, up to 25% of traditional search volume will shift to AI chatbots and virtual agents. For marketers, preparing for AI-integrated advertising is becoming essential.